Improvement in wash-tubs



n. w. McQLE'LLAND;

WASH-TUB. No.184,213, Patented Nov. 1876.

Witness 8; I 7%?) v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT W. MGULELLAND, OF OERRO GORDO, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT lN WASH-TUBS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 184,213, dated November7, 1876; application filed December 7, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT W. McOLEL- LAND, of Gerro Gordo, in thecounty of Piatt and State of Illinois, have invented a new and ImprovedWash-Tub; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full and exactdescription of the same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is aperspective view, and Fig. 2 is. a central vertical section.

Similar letters of reference in the accompanying drawings denote thesame parts.

My invention has for its object to improve the construction ofwash-tubs, in contradistinction to what are called washing-machines, andto provide a tub which can be used and handled with far less labor andtrouble than those now in common use. To this end the inventionconsists, first, in a new article of manufacture, to wit, a wash-tubmounted upon suitable legs of such length as to support the tub at therequisite height for use, the legs being provided with casters, by

which the tub may be moved from place to place without lifting it fromthe floor or ground. It also consists in the construction of the legsthemselves and their application to the tub, as I will now proceed todescribe.

In the accompanying drawings, A is the wash-tub, composed of metal, inthe usual form, and provided at its upper edge with suitable handles B.O O G are the legs, three or more in number, each carrying a caster, G,and adapted to fit into a metallic socket, E, or applied by equivalentmeans to the side of the tub. The sockets are secured to the tub aboutmidway of its height,and incline outward slightly, so that the legsshall properly support and brace the tub, and the legs are of a lengthnecessary to hold the tub at the proper height for use. By the provisionof the legs and casters the tub can be readily and easily moved from oneplace to another without lifting it from the floor, thereby saving. thelabor necessary to move the common wash-tub, which is very heavy whenfilled with water, and exceedingly clumsy to handle. The tub may bestrengthened above the sock-' ets by forming a molding or strengtheningbead, H, around it, as shown in Fig. 1.

A faucet, I, in the bottom of the tub enables the water to be dischargedwithout tipping the tub or lifting it from the place of its use.

By applying the legs as above described, they may be removed from theirsockets, so as to reduce the bulk of the tub for convenience intransportation. The lower ends of the sockets terminate on a line, ornearly so, with the bottom of the tub, so that the latter may be used,it necessary, without the legs. This necessity might arise from thebreaking of one of the legs, in which case all can be removed from theirsockets, and the tub-used in the ordinary manner, as stated.

I prefer, for lightness and economy, to construct the legs of wood,although they may be made of solid or sheet metal, if desired.

I do not limit myself to the use of legs upon a sheet-metal wash-tub,for it is evident that they may be applied to wooden tubs with equaleffect; and I, therefore, claim their use therewith.

Thelower edge of the sheet-metal tub shown in the drawings is formedwith a strong chime by turning it inward around a strengthening wire,70, and by forming adownward-projecting flange, M, around the bottom of'the tub,

with its edge resting upon the top of the wire.

The several proximate parts thus constructed are soldered together andform a chime of sufficient strength to support the tub under all theconditions of its use. The bottom of the tub is strengthened andstiffened by the cross-wires 0 upon its under side.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. As a new articleof manufacture, a washtub, provided with means for the attachment oflegs, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In combination with the wash-tub, the sockets E and legs 0,substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

ROBERT W. MCOLELLAND.

Witnesses:

LEVI MILLER, ABEL L. SHARP.

